The Get Up Kids: Something To Write Home AboutSomething To Write Home About (1999)Vagrant Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: TheEvilMonkeyThe Evil Monkey(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on December 6th 2002If you took out all the amazing music of the Get Up Kids from this album, you'd get words. Just words. You'd listen to them- and as I did, think- this is amazing. This is f*cking amazing. Because nothing can match the thoughts that swam to my head when I first heard the chorus to "My Apology", and t.

If you took out all the amazing music of the Get Up Kids from this album, you'd get words. Just words. You'd listen to them- and as I did, think- this is amazing. This is f*cking amazing. Because nothing can match the thoughts that swam to my head when I first heard the chorus to "My Apology", and the subtle genius of this sentence.

"Sometimes I can think to recite, words that I read and rewrite, my pens paint people, that I've proven wrong."

Words are so key on this album. It's clear that what isn't said is what shines- this is not music- it is just an experience. I have never had time to think when I listen to music- the fast pace of bands that I tend to like such as New Found Glory are just fun little tracks that you can sing along to and enjoy the heavy guitar and the varied drum parts.

So a friend recommended this to me- he's usually a Rancid/NOFX fan. He is usually a hardcore punker, but he says the Get Up Kids help him get through hard break ups he's had lately. Well, I was stoked to find out he listened to emo. Because, well, I enjoy talking to friends about music. Who doesn't?

So I pop this cd into my player, taking a second to read the booklet. Much in the style of one of my favorite bands Taking Back Sunday, this booklet reads like a journal entry- you almost get the feeling you're not looking at words to a song. Now here's the thing: I know some people might listen to this song and think, well, they use big words, but I could use big words if I wanted to.

No. It's clear that the Get Up Kids know what they put in their songs. These words blend beautifully into each track, and the music and words seamlessly work with each other to put a sound in your ear that is all it's own.

On to the actual review of the album itself- I'm just going to list the tracks and talk about them.

Holiday- The opener, and a quite fitting opener to boot. This song flows along at a great pace, and the chorus has some great melodies that really stick in your head. A very, very good song to open it up. The ending to this song really seals the deal, with a final screaming round of "Maybe I can see you on the holidays."

Action & Action- "I'm stronger now, but not without, the right formula for..." A great line that is very memorable in this song, that starts out quite a bit like "Holiday", but with it's words it makes a big difference. The chorus is once again full of great melodies, and a good main guitar part helps it along.

Valentine- A slower song that uses it's words to send the message, and a simple, to the point chorus that is finished with a three layered vocal part that really works perfectly.

Red Letter Day- A good song, fun to hum along too, and "You the one for, you the one for me" is delivered in a fun, powerful way that compels you to yell along with it.

Out Of Reach- A slow song that starts with just the acoustic guitar and piano, and wow, does this song make an impression- the visuals of this song really give it a lot of power. Amazing song, that gets a bit louder after the first chorus, and you can really feel it picking up.

"Here's me, overseas, across the pond, by the dover peaks. I've smuggled myself into new nationalities, think you'd be proud of me."

Ten Minutes- The first song I heard from this album, it's a winner with it's fast paced melodies, and one of my favorite parts of the whole album is after the second chorus, which states: "Pockets empty, how can you tell me that everything will work out."

Company Dime- A slowish song that is nice, but not too memorable, just because there aren't any large hooks in it.

My Apology- What can I say? Amazing melodies, awesome lyrics, just an amazing song. The chorus is so powerful it's almost a whole song by itself.

I'm A Loner Dottie, A Rebel- A great song that is supported by it's lyrics and it's great hooks. "If I go, it's not impossible, but possible is probably wrong" is one of the best set of lyrics I've ever seen. It is used well in the song, and it gets a good mark.

Long Goodnight- A slow song that is good, but drags on a bit with the same tendencies as The Company Dime- but still a great song, nonetheless, just not as steller as the others.

Close To Home- Amazing. Flows along with a great pace. The chorus picks up and you can't help but sing along to this one. One of my favorites.

I'll Catch You- The words make this song good, and it's a nice ballad, but it's missing something- like all the other though, still a good song because of the excellent writing.

This album is amazing. Three songs that are not my favorites are still very good- this is a band that will stay in my cd player for a very, very long time. One of my favorite albums, I urge anyone who doesn't shy away from large words to pick this one up. Although if you do shy away, that doesn't neccesarily mean you won't enjoy it. You just might not pick up all of the subtleties.

It's a damn good CD, but the get up kids, in my opinion, suck now. And the singer is quite an egotistical dickhead.

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

"I hate this lame shit. Go listen to it if you are an asshole."
I don't even like the Get Up Kids but you must be one hell of an asshole if you judge people by the music they enjoy. Fuck the purists!!!!

Anonymous (March 6, 2004)

Wow. This album is pure musical brilliance. Every single fucking song is amazing. There is not one song that you cannot just listen to without thinking to yourself, Holy Shit, I have died and gone to heaven. There is simply too much talent and perfection in this album to deny that it is quality music. Only God knows why someone who hates the Get Up Kids in the first place would come on here and post that the Get Up Kids are lame because anybody who has ever listened to the Get Up Kids and liked them knows that this is their defining album. If somebody who had never heard the Get Up Kids were to ask how they sounded or what are some good songs, I would simply close my eyes and point to any one of the songs on this album. Since this album though, they have made a pretty distinct change in their sound, probably losing more fan base than gaining new fans. Personally, I think On a Wire is also very quality music, but I could understand why many dislike it. But even if you stopped liking the Get Up Kids, this is a still an unforgettable album that is a necessity to any collection of CD's in this genre. God bless these fucking amazing young men.

A good CD. But this is the pivotal point for The Get Up Kids, cuz everything after this CD sucks in my opinion.

Anonymous (April 30, 2003)

as much as i hate being a chud and bashing on a reviewer, this was too irresistable. your "hard-punk" listening friend says that this album has helped him with his breakups recently? i doubt he really had much of a problem with breaking up if he's been having many recently...sounds like a horn-dog, or a 14-year-old. also, "i'll catch you" is the best song on the cd, how could you say it's missing something. its a song that's sincere and even beautiful that he would write something like that for someone.

This CD is amazing, just like anything The Get Up Kids have/will release. Enough said.

Stay gold, ponyboy.

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

this album should get 10 stars, im normally into harder music like the used and glass jaw, but i must say i was very impressed by the get up kids. Any body who doesnt like them is acting on ignorance because if you took a second to listen to this then you could never say that. This cd fills your mind with thoughts rather than screaming every second which is a very welcomed brake for me. So please stop saying shit about one of my favorite bands

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

wow. The get up kids are one of my favorite bands, and i dont care what anybody says because this has got to be one of the best almbums i have ever heard

who cares if someone reviews old stuff? i enjoy reading people's reviews of classic albums more than new album reviews.

Anonymous (December 10, 2002)

I wish that twat dude would keep ranting, that is some funny ass shit.

-sickboi

Anonymous (December 10, 2002)

What we really needed was your fucking dork-ass input on an album that was put out a long while ago. Here's a tip: if you are going to review an older (like 2 years ago) classic: 1) just don't fucking do it, its lame, and 2)if you do, have something fucking original to say. I think we've all seen enough completely fucking retards swing from tguk's nuts. Boring fucking chris

Anonymous (December 10, 2002)

oh and this album review is a little late since they've had 2 releases since.
the[]muffin[]girl

Anonymous (December 10, 2002)

>"Also, while Im at it, the vast
>majority of you who make comments on
>this website are
>losers/stupid/uninformed/and or super
>gay."

>Greatest. Comment. Ever.

that's because everyone bags on each other, how ironic.
the[]muffin[]girl

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

your teeth are emo

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

Get Up Kids get worse with each release. Liked 4 minute mile, this one gets old after 2-3 listens. This is one of the worst reviews I have ever read.

Hilarious sickboi! I wonder how many kids will get it? Aggravated assault with a spatula I believe it was.

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

I remember when an old buddy of mine recommended that this kid listen to Jets to Brazil. It eventually lead to the kid getting into the Get Up Kids, which infuriated my friend. He almost went to jail for beating the kid down, but actually got a really sweet government job out of it.

i bought this record when it first came out and quickly decided it would be the last Get Up Kids item i would ever buy.

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

Ive always thought this album kind of lacks cohesiveness. Like the first two songs are pretty fast then it slows down for the next 2, then speeds up again. It just seems like different songs put together like Eudora. But STWHA was better than On A Wire, On A Wire was good but its like they lost their passion.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

Click on "find other artists in the Fort Collins/Loveland area" and go to genre-pop punk, and then go down to Colorado. Its not really a big deal, we've been number one for a week or so just cause no one posts their songs on mp3.com and we've gotten a lot of listens in the past couple of days. oh, btw it changes every day, so it's really no big deal.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

How do you figure you have the #1 pop punk song in Colorodo. Did you receive an award?How does that work?

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

Hey sorry to waste your time, but it would mean sooo much if you guys checked out my band, the norads! Go to http://www.mp3.com/the_norads and give our song a listen, it's the #1 pop punk song in all of Colorado! Also, if you care, we have a website at http://thenoradssuck.cjb.net We're still just starting out, so any suggestions or comments would be more than appreciated. just e-mail us at thenoradssuck@yahoo.com and tell us how pitiful our song sounds! Thanks!
*arvind!
p.s. I'll be copying and pasting the above into various news posts and reviews, so just ignore it if you see it... and, sorry in advance...

because video games are more interesting than the get up kids, here's my advice:

ps2 hands down. if you've never played grand theft auto 3 or vice city, you've been missing out. i'd say ps2 has the greatest amount of games worth playing as well.

gamecube is a close second. i hear the new metroid will fuck your day up.

xbox is lame

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

If you're willing to pay, I'm willing to hang with you.

Sara(no h)

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

i hate the review, i dont like the new album, though its growing on me, im skipping seeing them because of the white belt kids, but i honestly think this record is amazing. I dislike 90 percent of the emo crap out there, but this record was fucking great. Crucify me, but i couldnt hate it, i dig every song.

wyzo

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

I will now take it apon myself to be the keeper of all that is punk. Anyone who says gay is not only anti-punk, but against everything punk music stands for. So please get out of the scene. PS: bad band, bad cd--emptycauses

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

"Also, while Im at it, the vast majority of you who make comments on this website are losers/stupid/uninformed/and or super gay."

Greatest. Comment. Ever.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

"Even if I did own or like avril who cares?" That sounds a little suspicious to me. Boring live, boring on TV, all the fucking same to me. Damn I should rap. Sarah, I like you. You're special to me. We've known each other for years...why don't we talk anymore? All we do is fight! I want my wittle hunny bunny back. Remember when we used to hold hands as we browsed the afi shirts at hot topic? Or how we screamed our lungs out at the nfg show? I want that again. You're just being mean to me now. What did I do to you? Please Sarah, I want those old days again. How about we skip down to the jamba juice and then we can ride our razor scooters down to the mall and pick out a new white tank top and big floppy tie? Then we can play avril on our new mtv karaoke machine and rock out all night while we braid each others hair! twat

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

Look here jerk. I never said I saw them LIVE and was boerd. I saw them through a T.V. show and watched their music video and disliked it. "Action & Action" is still one of the worst Get Up Kids songs in my opinion. I would like to also add that I don't own any Avril cds,nor have I ever bought anything from Hot Topic. Even if I did own or like Avril who cares. Why don't you call HOOKED ON PHONICS, and then after you've graduated from their program, you can look less like a dumbass.

Sara(no h)

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

"Does anyone else wish that emo, screamo, indie rock, post-######## and anything ####### else along those lines would just go away?" NO

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

Neither.

Get a gamecube.

Fucking Super Smash Bros. Melee is the greatest game ever created. Then there's Timesplitters 2 and Tony Hawk 4. Super Monkey Ball 2 is a super fun game. Sega released a Sonic the Hedgehog compilation(?) disc for it. Basically ever Sonic game that came out for genesis is on the disc. Good shit. Those games are classic. I know there are more good games coming out.

well, people have theyre own opinions, i respect all of yours, even if you think this album sucks or whatnot....but i will forever hold this cd very close , it has alot of meaning to me and the get up kids are simply amazing....and nice guys, i met them on bourbon street in New Orleans, they took the time to smile and talk and sign an autograph. 4 minute mile was good , as was On a Wire and the Eps they put out.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

This review bites. I like the album a lot. But, this review sucked ass. Also, while Im at it, the vast majority of you who make comments on this website are losers/stupid/uninformed/and or super gay.

Im glad you like good music. But seriously, get a life.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

I get to see Andrew W.K. and Shai Hulud next Saturday. Hooray!

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

She has 14 of your cd's? I didn't know avril lavigne had that many albums. I didnā??t know hot topic sold that many albums. I didn't know someone that listens to the get up kids could figure out how to play the albums. I didn't know the get up kids had fans that know how to type. See where I'm going with this? Please tell me how these fugly mother fuckers write songs about relationships when itā??s perfectly clear none of them have ever been in one. And for fucks sake, how many "Oregon is for lovers" thrift shop t shirts does matt pryor own. One more thing Sarah, you used to watch them play live on a local show hated them, but then you heard their album and dug em? Thatā??s fucking great! I want to listen to a band that bores the shit out of me live. One more thing, I'm out of thin mints sarah. twat

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

4 minute mile is a zillion times better than this record.

Emo. GUK is not emo. Emo is hardcore bands singing about relationships. Of course there's the whole midwest emo sound or whatever. Bands like braid and the like. Not like a give a fuck really. The word gets thrown around way too much though. People are stupid.

-Scotty

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

I really love this cd. I first heard of The Get Up Kids thorugh a local showin Los Angeles, PUNK-O-RAMA, back in'99and they would play that song"Action & Action", and was neverfondof the song. But my friend bought the cd, and we were listening to it in the car,a nd I was like "woah,dude who's this" she told me it was The Get Up Kids,and I asked to borrow her cd and to this day have not returned it. Do I feel bad,no cause she has like 14 of my cds.

P.S, "I urge anyone who doesn't shy away from large words to pick this one up. " where are the large words?

Sara(no h)

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

Does anyone else wish that emo, screamo, indie rock, post-hardcore and anything fucking else along those lines would just go away? And please do not refer to NOFX and Rancid as hard... Go pick up Hope Conspiracy, Shai Hulud, Knives Out, Some Girls and American Nightmare...

Coming from the guy who likes Sum-41, right?heh - get over it-BostonMusicGuy

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

Coming from the guy who likes Sum-41, right?

heh... I knew that was coming.

Anyway, reiterating what Scott said, regardless of what quality you consider this album to be, its influence cannot be denied. Acting dismissive towards a band that launched the success of such a label as Vagrant proves you to be nothing more than a pretentious, thesaurus-hugging piece of shit.

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

twat

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

You pussy. Offending people is fun. What are you in the Jurassic 5? Everyone can't be the nice guy you fembot. When did being pc become cool? Everyone is different. The key is finding out how they are different and exploiting it in a way that makes them cry. Tears from a man, now thatā??s comedy. Bostonmusicguy, you're too old to listen to sum 41. Who are you kidding? Go listen to your steely dan and take your multi vitamins.

im going for a hat trick here on the comments, but before i get chewed out for this i'd like to say that theres nothing wrong with being gay, and i didnt mean to offend anyone with that previous comment.

also i'd like to add my 2 cents on the whole "what is emo" issue. I dont even think its a genre, its more of an adjective. Cuz "emo" span way too many genres to be considered a genre itself, anything from hardcore to punk to a gay man with a guitar can be considered emo. That doesnt sound like a genre if it can be that broad. So, i've decided that emo isnt a genre its an adjective. All in favor say "I" all opposed say "NAY"

I think this album is great, not the best cd ever, but good nonetheless. I also must comment on the review itself, the intro was really good and made me really interested in reading the rest of the review. However, as soon as it came to paragraph about how his friend recommended this cd to him, this review got really boring and uninteresting, but this review is still better than the majority of them on this here site.

does wuss emo really ROCK though??

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

I honestly thought this was a joke. "Now Scott," I mentally scolded him, "although emo is funny and the kids shoving thier fingers in the air to NFG deserve all the mockery they can get, we shouldn't post them to salvage any integrity this site had left."

The frightening thing is this isn't a joke. Nothing TGUK has or will ever release will ever be worth a full 10. Reserve such adornment for sonic geniuses Wilco and The Flaming Lips, and if we are indeed limited by the punk genre, there are very few worthy of the honor of a full score (Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi come to mind).

Not only was the reviewer's opinions massively offensive and disgusting, the review itself reflects on his complete idiocy.

Allowances must be made, he is a moron.

And your comment reveals your incomparable love of the pocket thesaurus. Not to mention your bigheadedness in believing that your music deserves anything less than the highest regard.

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

10 minutes is a great song... but other than that i dont really like get up kids much... definitley anything BUT amazing.

I honestly thought this was a joke. "Now Scott," I mentally scolded him, "although emo is funny and the kids shoving thier fingers in the air to NFG deserve all the mockery they can get, we shouldn't post them to salvage any integrity this site had left."

The frightening thing is this isn't a joke. Nothing TGUK has or will ever release will ever be worth a full 10. Reserve such adornment for sonic geniuses Wilco and The Flaming Lips, and if we are indeed limited by the punk genre, there are very few worthy of the honor of a full score (Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi come to mind).

Not only was the reviewer's opinions massively offensive and disgusting, the review itself reflects on his complete idiocy.

Allowances must be made, he is a moron.

Anonymous (December 7, 2002)

You know what you don't want to write home about? This piece of shit cd. I'd rather have a period, and I'm a guy. twat

Recordings. Shut the fuck up. You keep talking like you have been here forever when in reality you just got here what? a little less than a month ago?

by the way, amazing record!!!!

fucking amazing!!!!

holy shit, it's beyond amazing.

is that good recordings??

*****Wuss-Emo-Rock*****

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

i've been a tguk fan for a while, and i think their last lp was the shit. it's so much more different than their other stuff. i don't think i've ever listened to "something..." the whole way through, and i've had it for a few years. it just kind of all bleeds together and gets boring. oh well...

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

1)Ten Minutes is an awesome song.
2)I think the word 'amazing' is used way too much. It's like a wierd new buzz word and it's ridiculous that people are using it so much.
3)Taking back sunday has good lyrics and has more musical integrity than so many people assume.

"So a friend recommended this to me- he's usually a Rancid/NOFX fan. He is usually a hardcore punker, but he says the Get Up Kids help him get through hard break ups he's had lately. Well, I was stoked to find out he listened to emo. Because, well, I enjoy talking to friends about music. Who doesn't?"

ahahahaha

Peace,
-SOYBOMB-

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

fourfa.com is fucking joke, it's pathetic.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

If you want to know about emo. Go to www.fourfa.com and look up styles. there are plenty of bands listed that will help you define the genre. Current,Hoover,Still Life,Swing Kids,Coleman,John Henry West, and Honeywell.
Learn some history before you say a genre of music does not exist!

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

please refrain from compareing Taking Back Sunday to GUK's ever again. Although not the most groundbreaking band, the GUK's do not try to make it by selling themselves as being like the current popular bands. TBS has time and again been sold as "JEW meets Thursday and Dashboard". Although this is probably a tactic enforced by Victory, who time and again seem to me to be the most major-label indie in the market."Thursday Whoopie Cushions...anyone want one?"

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

no "emo" i can think of fits into the ######## genre, and few fit into the pop genre.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

Emo is a fucking worthless name for a worthless genre.

Stick the music into hardcore or pop already and get rid of the names "emo", "screamo" and "emo-core".

It's getting fucking pathetic with what people are doing now.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

we should have a huge convention so everyone can make an agreement on whats emo or not. Kind of like what mathmiticians did with pi.

This album isn't a perfect ten, though - there's a few duds [I'm looking in the direction of "The Company Dime"]. But this album did revolutionize a genre of music, and established Vagrant Records. If it wasn't for this album, Vagrant would be nothing today.

-Scott

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

hey, why don't we refer to a pop rock record as "emo" and rancid and NOFX as "hard punk"!

also sarcasm. good review though, great album. just not emo.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

HEY! Why don't we review an album that's been out for like 3 years now! That'll be great!

/sarcasm

This is a fine cd, but c'mon on now, you could've at least reviewed their latest cd.